1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

The proposed House Bill 122 in Georgia poses a grave threat to reproductive healthcare and individual rights. By granting full legal protections to embryos from the moment of fertilization, this extreme legislation would outlaw nearly all abortions and potentially criminalize women, doctors, and even fertility clinics providing IVF treatments. Medical professionals have rightfully raised alarms about the detrimental impacts this draconian measure could have on critical healthcare services. Furthermore, Georgia's existing six-week abortion ban and alarmingly high maternal mortality rates, especially among Black women, underscore the urgency of expanding access to quality care instead of imposing more restrictive policies that endanger lives. A study from ProPublica highlighted how the current abortion restrictions have already contributed to tragic maternal deaths due to delays in care. Policymakers must prioritize the well-being of their constituents over ideological agendas. This regressive bill disregards the complex realities faced by women and families, including cases of fatal fetal abnormalities or life-threatening pregnancies. It fails to account for the profound physical, emotional, and socioeconomic impacts of forcing people to carry non-viable pregnancies to term. A comprehensive approach centered on improving healthcare infrastructure, addressing systemic inequities, and safeguarding bodily autonomy is urgently needed instead of draconian measures that exacerbate existing problems. House Bill 122 represents an unconscionable overreach that undermines fundamental rights and jeopardizes the health and lives of Georgians. I urge you to reject this harmful legislation now and in any future sessions, and instead focus efforts on tangible solutions that protect and empower all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.